1
as in sources
a point or place at which something is invented or provided
the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in roots
the source from which something grows or develops
the origin of the tradition of giving presents at Christmastime
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lineages
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
they could trace their origins back 15 generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of origins
Uruguay origins The conference dates back to 2016 and is usually held in Punta del Este in the North American fall.
—
Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
But with inflation replacing the earliest moments of that stage, all of a sudden the story of our ultimate origins was thrown into doubt.
—Big Think, 24 Oct. 2025
As an actual anthropologist, Frank is better placed than most to try and explain the origins of this new social habit.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
With Variety, the director discusses his YouTube origins, shooting on old-school camcorders and that shocking ending.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Ahead of the musical’s opening night on October 28, Schiff sat down to chat about the origins of Romy and Michele, adapting her screenplay for the stage, and what fans can expect from the sequel.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2025
Cornbread dressing is a Southern specialty, with its American origins dating back to the early 1900s when African Americans developed the dish using leftover bread or grains mixed with seasonings.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025
Nobody Wants This is featured on the cover of this week’s The Hollywood Reporter, which dives into the origins of the show and its troubled first season, which despite its issues became a global smash.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
The shape has also been appearing on runways in more exaggerated forms — including chunky hybrids and platform styles that push past their school-girl origins.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2025
Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
But with inflation replacing the earliest moments of that stage, all of a sudden the story of our ultimate origins was thrown into doubt.
—Big Think, 24 Oct. 2025
As an actual anthropologist, Frank is better placed than most to try and explain the origins of this new social habit.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
With Variety, the director discusses his YouTube origins, shooting on old-school camcorders and that shocking ending.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Ahead of the musical’s opening night on October 28, Schiff sat down to chat about the origins of Romy and Michele, adapting her screenplay for the stage, and what fans can expect from the sequel.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2025
Cornbread dressing is a Southern specialty, with its American origins dating back to the early 1900s when African Americans developed the dish using leftover bread or grains mixed with seasonings.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025
Nobody Wants This is featured on the cover of this week’s The Hollywood Reporter, which dives into the origins of the show and its troubled first season, which despite its issues became a global smash.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
The shape has also been appearing on runways in more exaggerated forms — including chunky hybrids and platform styles that push past their school-girl origins.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for origins
Noun
-
During the formative phase of the infant American republic, when its survival was still problematic, iconic founders performed a valuable function as reliable sources of unquestioned wisdom, a veritable gallery of Delphic oracles available on demand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
While federal grand juries operate in secrecy, any connection between their proceedings and political claims remains speculative unless confirmed by official sources.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Evolito itself traces its roots to YASA’s early axial flux technology.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
-
For better or for worse, the Halo franchise seems to be done with wacky campaign experiments and is returning to its roots.—
Alyssa Mercante,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Participants danced and sang songs native to their tribal lineages.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The various lineages of Ursuța’s work are unmistakable.—
Jerry Saltz,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In the photos, Travis can be seen down on one knee as Swift cradles his face in the sweet moment.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
3 Oct. 2025
-
However, looking deep into these swirling cradles of planet formation has always been tricky.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Esther isn’t using their beginnings as a weapon, but as a lesson.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
-
During the interview, the singer discussed success and her career beginnings and shared that her dream was to become a movie director.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This lack of representation is problematic for people of different ancestries because genetic risk factors differ across populations.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The box covers the most popular classes and ancestries such as humans, elves, dwarves and halflings.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Those players, with their own experiences and their own pedigrees, joined the team last year and watched a team underachieve.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
When employers look past pedigrees and see workers’ singular abilities, histories, and motivations, skills gaps disappear.—
Ryan Stowers,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Transcripts, grammars, vocabularies, dictionaries, glyph studies, botanical studies, commentaries, articles, editions of codices, correspondence, maps, charts, drawings, photographs, Maya Society materials, genealogies of Maya families, and Mayan glyphs on moveable type.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Origins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/origins. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share